2 Samuel 3:24-30 - What have you done?

3:24-27

Joab is appalled at what David has done. He claims that Abner is trying to deceive David, and is preparing for an attack. Joab’s distorted view of things may be a result of his bitterness. Or he may just be making things up because of his hatred of Abner. Joab takes direct action. He sends messengers to have Abner brought back, and when Abner returns Joab killed him. In order to avenge his brother’s blood. Hebron was actually one of the cities of refuge (Josh 20:7). If we look back at the killing of Asahel, Abner tried to avoid killing him and only did so when Asahel refused to stop chasing him. Joab is the guilty party in all this.

3:28-30

David makes a pronouncement claiming that he and his kingdom had nothing to do with the murder of Abner, the guilt was entirely with Joab. David then curses Joab and his family. The purpose of this is to show that David was innocent and to avoid the killing of Abner jeopardising the new found unity in the whole of Israel. It is then noted that Joab killed Abner because he had killed Asahel. Here it is noted that Abishai, Joab’s other brother, was also involved.